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(No Model.)

F. A. HETHERINGTON.

CAMERA.

Patented Sept. 22, 1891. l.

Ffa, 3.

- Eff/M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK A. IIETIIERINGTON, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

CAMERA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,099, dated September 22, 1891.

Application tiled March 21,1891. Serial No. 385,907. (No niodeL To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. HETHEE- INGTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Photographic Cameras, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in that class ot cameras known commonly as hand or detective7 cameras; and its object is to provide an etticient means of securing a light-tight joint around a detachable view-finder and at the same time provide a means of securely locking the cover of the camera-box. I attain this object bythe device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a reduced view of a hand-camera box, showing the near side of the box removed and the view-inder in the position it assumes when thecover or lid is in place. Fig. 2 is a full-sized view ofk a portion of the front end of the box as seen from the top with lid or cover removed and shows the viewfinder in position. Fig. 3 is a View of a portion of the front end ot a box, showing the cover or lid removed and the view-finder in the position it assumes when the lid is removed.

Similar letters refer to similar parts iu the several views.

E E are the sides of the box or body of the camera, and D AD are its ends.

C is a detachable front board or false end, which iits into the box inside of the end proper, and it slides into position and is held there by means of rabbeted grooves in the sides, as shown at H H, Fig. 2.

A is a view-finder of the ordinary type constructed Witnlens,inclinedmirror, and ground glass inclosed in a suitable outer casing.

F is an open spiral spring attached to the body of the view-finder upon the under side.

G is an angle-plate or step-piece attached to the front board O in such position as to form a support for the bottom end of the spiral spring F.

B is the main lens-tube of the camera attached to the front board, and openings are cut through the front board and also theend of the camera-box for the access ot' light. An opening is also provided in the end ot the box in such position that it will coincide with the lens of the view-finder when the cover is inthe box.

The top ot the camera-box is a sliding lid or cover, and an opening is cut through it, as shown at J, Fig. 1. This opening is located exactly over the ground glass of the viewnder, but is somewhat less in area. Around the under side edges of this opening is cut a rabbeted recess, as shown at K, Fig. 1. This under side recess is of suoli dimensions that the top of the view-finder, glass, casing, and Q all will lit neatly into it.

The spring F is of such length that when the view-finder is not held down by the cover it will project the view-finder somewhat above the plane of the under side of the lid or cover; but if the view-finder be pressed downward below the plane in which the under side of the cover slides the cover may be entered into the rabbeted grooves in which it slides and then pushed into place, thus closing the box.` As the cover is sliding into place the view-finder is kept depressed by reason of the cover holding it down; but as soon as the cover has slid entirely into place the view-finder springs up into the recessed place around the opening J, and as it entirely lls the recess a juncture is formed with the cover, which is practically light-tight, while at the same time the lid or cover is locked into place and cannot be withdrawn without first pressing down upon the view-1inder until it disengages with the cover or lid.

In the device as shown in the accompanjL ing drawings the view-finder A is mounted in a cut-out place in the front board O,being set into rabbeted grooves, as shown at 1I H', Fig. 2. It is free to slide up and down in these grooves to a limited extent.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent- 1. In a photographic camera, the combination, with the camera box or body having a sliding lid or cover, of a vieW-nder arranged to engage with the lid or cover so that by entering into a depression in the lid or cover a light-tight joint is formed and at the saine IOO Jrime the lid or cover is locked into place, subbination with L sliding lid or cover having a stantiaily as described, and in the mannerset recess or detent, substantially as described,

forth. and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a photographic camera, a view-finder FREDERICK A. IIETIIERINGTON. 5 having a springin connection or Contact there- Witnesses:

with, so arranged that it may be depressed HERMAN F. GOETZER, from Without the body of the camera, in com- CARL C. KOERNER, Jr. 

